If ever an ingredient wanted a PR makeover, it’s tofu. The recipe for the job? Air Fryer Tofu. Transcendently crispy outdoors, pleasantly agency inside, and infused with a savory soy maple marinade, tofu cooked within the air fryer will make a believer out of even its harshest critics.
I’m doggedly satisfied that anybody who says they don’t like tofu hasn’t tried to air fry tofu but.
And in case you depend your self among the many tofu skeptics—I get it.
Tofu may be (and it is a culinary time period) ick.
With out the correct therapy, tofu is soggy, mushy, and bland.
WITH correct cooking method, nonetheless, tofu is a culinary playground!
- A hungry sponge, tofu (like Roasted Cauliflower) readily absorbs any flavors you add to it.
- With a couple of simple however vital steps, your tofu will prove agency, crispy, and delectable.
- PLUS! Since air fryer tofu makes use of little or no oil to crisp, it’s a lot more healthy than common deep-fried tofu, which is totally submerged in oil.
5 Star Assessment
“Wow… I by no means touch upon recipes… that is sooooo good. I’ll most likely have tofu a couple of occasions per week now. Thanks for the ideas!”
— Cashmere —
Whereas you should use numerous strategies to make tofu crispy (for instance, I take advantage of freezing and boiling on this Crispy Tofu cooking information and urgent dry plus pan-frying on this reader favourite Tofu Stir Fry), the most effective methodology that I’ve discovered is utilizing the air fryer.
An air fryer is a high-powered, extra-effective countertop convection oven. It blows sizzling air down and across the meals, cooking and crisping it in a couple of brief minutes.
To match, air fryer tofu cooks in 11 to 13 minutes, whereas an everyday convection oven would require nearer to 25 to half-hour.
How you can Cook dinner Tofu within the Air Fryer
Relating to crispy tofu (and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts), an air fryer goes to be your greatest buddy and secret weapon.
Secrets and techniques to the Greatest Air Fryer Tofu
Making the absolute best crispy air fryer tofu is a matter of 4 key parts.
- Press the Tofu. This removes extra water that might make the tofu soggy.
- Marinade. By itself, tofu is bland. Letting it sit in a marinade for as little as quarter-hour makes all of the distinction on the planet.
- Cornstarch. I examined this air fryer tofu each with and with out cornstarch. I discovered that tossing the marinated tofu in cornstarch previous to including it to the air fryer made a exceptional distinction.
- Excessive Temperature. The very best temperature for air fryer tofu is 400 levels F. It will crisp the surface whereas permitting the within to grow to be pleasantly agency. Air fryer tofu cooks in 9 to 12 minutes.
The Substances
- Additional-Agency Tofu. Tofu is a superb meat various, full of protein, iron, and calcium. It’s important to make use of extra-firm tofu right here, because it accommodates much less water than different varieties and can maintain its form higher throughout cooking.
- Soy Sauce. Wealthy with umami goodness, soy sauce is a can’t-miss addition to our tofu marinade.
- Rice Wine Vinegar. Rice wine vinegar provides a contact of candy acidity to the marinade.
- Olive Oil. A wholesome fats that helps carry and switch the flavors of the marinade into the tofu.
- Pure Maple Syrup. Naturally sweetens the marinade and pairs nicely with the soy sauce.
- Spices. Garlic powder and floor ginger are scrumptious spice additions to the marinade.
- Sriracha. A splash of sizzling sauce provides simply the correct amount of warmth. Be at liberty to make use of extra in case you like your tofu spicy.
TIP!
Do you could have one other marinade you get pleasure from? The very best half about air fryer tofu is it’s simple to adapt after getting the fundamental methodology down. The variations are primarily countless!
- Cornstarch. A closing toss with cornstarch is the important thing to a wonderfully crispy and golden exterior.
The Instructions
- Gently press the tofu, then minimize into cubes.
- Pat the tofu dry to take away as a lot extra moisture as doable.
- Stir the marinade elements collectively.
- Marinade the tofu for quarter-hour.
- Toss to coat with the cornstarch.
- Place the tofu in a single layer within the basket of an air fryer. Cook dinner at 400 levels F for 9 minutes. Toss, then cook dinner for an additional 2 to 4 minutes.
- Repeat with remaining batches, then serve along with your favourite dipping sauce. ENJOY!
Methods to Use Air Fryer Tofu
What crispy tofu cubes you’ll be able to resist nibbling straight out of the air fryer basket (and sure, air fryer tofu is THAT GOOD) can be utilized in a wide range of methods.
Tofu is an ideal method so as to add protein to your favourite vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes.
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Retailer the air-fried tofu in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Recrisp tofu within the air fryer at 375 levels F. It should solely take a couple of minutes, so examine usually to stop burning.
- To Freeze. The feel of the tofu could change as soon as frozen and thawed, however the taste will stay scrumptious. Place tofu cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze till strong. Freeze the frozen tofu in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Plan Tip
Minimize the tofu block into cubes as much as 1 day upfront. Refrigerate them in an hermetic storage container.
Combine the marinade elements collectively as much as 1 day upfront, and place the combination within the fridge.
When able to get pleasure from, put together based on the directions within the recipe card.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Tofu
Really useful Instruments to Make this Recipe
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-AF161-Fryer-5-5-Quart-Gray/dp/B07S6529ZZ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&key phrases=ninja+xl&qid=1611075283&sr=8-3&linkCode=sl1&tag=thlastswi-20&linkId=043492033c266f159c4025afc6f42378&language=en_US
The Greatest Air Fryer
This air fryer works like a dream! It’s the perfect dimension and has a mess of various cooking strategies.
As you’ve now seen, air fryer tofu is straightforward to make, tasty, and versatile.
Of all of the methods to make use of tofu, don’t be shocked if you catch your self having fun with it straight from the air fryer basket!
Regularly Requested Questions
I’ve solely examined the recipe with the marinade, so that you’d be experimenting in case you select to omit it from the recipe.
Tofu could prove soggy for a couple of causes. First, an excessive amount of water. In the event you don’t press the water out of your tofu, it may well simply grow to be soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature received’t permit it to crisp correctly.
Whereas air fryer tofu requires far much less oil than deep frying, it nonetheless requires some oil. The oil features as a barrier that helps forestall the tofu from sticking to the basket. For greatest outcomes, generously coat the air fryer’s basket with cooking spray earlier than including the tofu.
- 1 block extra-firm tofu (12 to fifteen ounces) should be further agency
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon floor ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or sizzling sauce of alternative
- 1 tablespoon corn starch or arrowroot starch
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Take away the tofu from the package deal and drain. Along with your palms, gently squeeze out as a lot water as doable with out breaking or crushing the block. Lay the tofu flat on a chopping board, so the longer edge is in direction of you, then minimize it into 4 strips. Rotate the strips in order that the broader (minimize sides) are flat towards the chopping board, and minimize them in half once more, so you could have 8 strips whole. Minimize the strips crosswise into 1-inch cubes (I find yourself with 5 cubes per strip).
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Line a chopping board or giant plate with a clear tea towel (or related lint-free kitchen towel) or paper towels. Unfold the tofu cubes onto it in a single layer and lay a second towel on high. Press gently however firmly and alter out the towel as wanted. The concept is to take away as a lot water from the tofu as doable.
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In a small bowl or giant liquid measuring cup, stir collectively the soy sauce, vinegar, syrup, oil, garlic powder, ginger, and sizzling sauce.
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Place the tofu in a shallow baking dish or medium mixing bowl. Pour the soy sauce combination over the tofu, then along with your hand, toss gently to mix. Let the tofu sit for quarter-hour, tossing it once more midway by way of. Don’t fear if a couple of bits crumble. These will flip deliciously crispy.
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In the event you’d wish to hold the tofu heat between batches, preheat your oven to 250 levels F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the air fryer to 400 levels F based on the producer’s directions (for my air fryer, that’s 3 minutes of preheat time).
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Simply earlier than cooking, sprinkle the corn starch evenly excessive of the tofu and toss to coat.
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Coat the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray. Add the tofu in a single layer, leaving a bit area across the cubes so they don’t contact and the air can flow into. (Relying upon the scale of your air fryer, you could have to cook dinner it in two or three batches.)
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Cook dinner the tofu for 9 minutes. Then slide the basket out, and shake it gently to toss the tofu. Proceed to cook dinner for two to 4 extra minutes, tossing and checking it every minute, till the tofu is crisp and darkish golden. (The time will differ primarily based in your air fryer; hold an in depth eye on it in direction of the tip to make sure it doesn’t burn.) If desired, switch the tofu to the baking sheet and hold it heat within the oven when you end the remainder.
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Repeat with remaining tofu, discarding any extra marinade (when you’ve got some crumbled bits of tofu within the backside of the bowl, you’ll be able to air fry these too). Get pleasure from!
- TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: Use tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos rather than the soy sauce.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate tofu in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Recrisp tofu within the air fryer at 375 levels F. It should solely take a couple of minutes, so examine usually to stop burning.
- TO FREEZE: The feel of the tofu could change as soon as frozen and thawed, however the taste will stay scrumptious. Place tofu cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze till strong. Freeze the frozen tofu in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 7gFats: 4gSaturated Fats: 1gPotassium: 177mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
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